Apparatus for sampling ore and the like

ABSTRACT

An elongate sample collector or container having a longitudinal dimension corresponding to the useable (between guides) width of the conveyor belt is moved while empty onto the conveyor belt in such manner as to extend across the same at a position where it receives, from above, that portion of the particulate material which otherwise would have fallen onto the conveyor belt; a carriage which is movable longitudinally of the conveyor belt removes the sample collector from the conveyor belt; and then another carriage moves the first mentioned carriage and the sample collector in an angular direction away from the conveyor belt preparatory to obtaining the desired analysis.

United States Patent Cahill I 1 May 2, 1972 [S4] APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING ORE AND THE LIKE [72] inventor: John A. Cahlll, CPZC O0 966, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil [22] Filed: June 24, 1970 Appl. No.: 49,424

[52] U.S.Cl.

3,487,427 12/1969 Cahill ..73/42l Primary Examiner-S. Clement Swisher Anomey-Robert U. Geib, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An elongate sample collector or container having a longitudinal dimension corresponding to the useable (between guides) width of the conveyor belt is moved while empty onto the conveyor belt in such manner as to extend across the same at a position where it receives, from above, that portion of the particulate material which otherwise would have fallen onto the conveyor belt; a carriage which is movable longitudinally of the conveyor belt removes the sample collector from the conveyor belt; and then another carriage moves the first mentioned carriage and the sample collector in an angular direction away from the conveyor belt preparatory to obtaining the desired analysis.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDHAY 2:912

INVENTOR J4 [Iv/fizz.

ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING ORE AND THE LIKE This invention relates to the sampling of .ores and other particulate material, especially to the removal of representative quantities thereof from a moving endless belt conveyor.

As pointed out in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,427 issued Dec. 30, 1969, although many methods had theretofore been proposed for removing samples of particulate material from a moving endless belt conveyor, all of those which were previously known to me are characterized by mixing, oscillating or jarring the material within the sample collector to a substantial extent.

In order to obtain samples which are truly representative of the mass which is in motion, and as it is in motion, my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,427 provides for moving the material onto a subjacent endless belt conveyor in the form of a stream and at a point which is proximate to, but spaced from, the upstream extremity of the endless belt conveyor;

disposing on an unloaded upstream portion of the endless belt conveyor a sample collector which extends transversely of the endless belt conveyor and is of sufficient width to collect a true sample of the aforementioned stream of particulate material as it would be had it fallen directly onto the endless belt conveyor; and

removing the sample collector from the endless belt conveyor after it has been loaded with the particulate material.

lt is among the objects of the present invention to provide for the conduct of the immediately aforementioned method in a manner which is simple and inexpensive.

Another object is the provision of apparatus for attaining the aforementioned advantages which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, install, operate and maintain.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be more readily understood after referring to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, and wherein:

The sole FIGURE is a perspective elevational view illustrating a form of apparatus which has been constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the number 50 designates an overhead substantially rectangular carriage which is provided at each end with a pair of rollers 52 that ride on adjacently disposed and suitably supported overhead trackways 53, the latter being disposed in parallelism and extending at right-angles to the endless conveyor belt 1.

Disposed beneath the substantially rectangular overhead carriage 50 is a rail 55, which is shown in the form of an inverted T-scction, the same being connected at one end to the overhead carriage 50 adjacent its downstream end, as shown at 57.

The remainder of the rail 55 extends in a direction which is upstream with respect to the endless conveyor belt 1 and convergently toward the latter, being maintained in such position by a strut 60 which depends from the upstream end of the overhead carriage 50.

A carriage 63, which is considerably smaller than the overhead carriage 50, is adapted for movement along the underside of the inverted T-shaped rail 55, being provided with suitably mounted rollers 65.

Depending from the forward, or upstream end of the carriage 63, is a link 69 carrying a cross-bar 71 which extends transverse of the carriage and, accordingly, of the endless conveyor belt 1.

At each of its ends the cross-bar 71 carries a depending, and forwardly facing, hook 72.

Depending from the middle of the carriage 63 and at a point which is adjacent its rearward or downward end is a single forwardly facing hook 73.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention there is a substantially rectangular sample container 75 which extends across, or substantially across, as in the case of my aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,487,427, the endless conveyor belt 1. This substnatially rectangular sample container 75 is provided along its upstream edge with a pair of rather widely spaced vertically extending bails 76, and on the downstream edge thereof with a single vertically extending bail 77 which is positioned at a point which is approximately midway of said edge and approximately midway of the distance between the pair of relatively widely spaced vertically extending bails 76.

More specifically, the sizes and positioning of the'pair' of bails 76 on the upstream edge of the sample container 75 and the single intermediately disposed bail 77 on the downstream edge thereof are such that when the carriage 63 is in its'most advanced position the forwardly facing pair of substantially spaced hooks 72 will clear the bail 77' but engagethe'pair of substantially spaced bails 76 while at the same time permitting the single hook 73 to engage the single interrnediately disposed bail 77.

It will be understood that as the carriage 63-moves upwardly along the T-shaped rail 55, and of course downstreamwith the endless conveyor belt 1, the sample container 75 will be removed from-contact with the latter; andafter it has been elevated to a position where its bottom is above the ore or other material which'is being conveyed, the overhead carriage 50 is moved along the rails 53 transversely of and away from the conveyor belt.

Various means, either manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic may be used to move the carriages 50 and 63 in the manner described, including braking means for restraining the retrograde movement of the carriage 63 after it and the depending sample container 75, have been moved into appropriate elevated position on the T-shaped rail 55 preparatory to being transferred from above the endless conveyor belt l by the overhead carriage 50.

It is contemplated that the movement imparted to the sample container 75 will be adequate for it and the carriage 63 to achieve the desired elevated position without the use of additional power means, although such may be employed if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for conveying particulate material and removing a sample thereof while it is in motion comprising, in combination an endless belt conveyor;

means for moving the particulate material onto said endless belt conveyor from above;

a sample collector which is adapted for disposition on said endless belt conveyor and movement beneath said means;

an overhead trackway extending at a substantially normal angle to said endless belt conveyor and disposed downstream with respect to said means;

a carriage adapted for movement along said overhead trackway;

a second overhead trackway supported by said carriage and extending downwardly toward the endless belt conveyor and in a direction which is upstream with respect thereto;

a second carriage supported by and adapted for movement along said second overhead trackway; and

means on said sample collector for permitting its attachment to said second carriage;

whereby said sample collector may be moved with said second carriage upwardly from and downstream with respect to the moving endless belt conveyor and then transversely thereof by the movement of said first-named carriage along said firstnamed overhead trackway.

2. Apparatus for conveying particulate material and removing a sample thereof while it is in motion comprising, in combination,

an endless belt conveyor;

means for moving the particulate material onto said endless belt conveyor from above;

a sample collector which is adapted for disposition on said endless belt conveyor and movement beneath said means;

a first carriage;

said first carriage being disposed above and movable over said endless belt conveyor at a position which is downstream with respect to said means;

a second carriage supported by said first carriage and movable with respect thereto;

a retractable attaching device carried by said second carriage and disposed to extend downwardly toward, and upstream with respect to, said endless belt conveyor;

attaching elements carried by said sample collector; and

attaching elements carried by said retractable attaching device which are adapted to cooperate with the attaching elements carried by said sample collector.

3. Apparatus for conveying particulate material and removing a sample thereof while it is in motion comprising, in combination,

an endless belt conveyor;

means for moving the particulate material onto said endless belt conveyor from above;

a sample collector which is adapted for disposition on said endless belt conveyor and movement beneath said means;

a fixed overhead trackway extending at a substantially normal angle to said endless belt conveyor and disposed downstream with respect to said means; a first carriage; v said first carriage being adapted for movement along said fixed overhead trackway; a second overhead trackway; said second overhead trackway being pivotally supported by said first carriage and extending downwardly toward said endless belt conveyor and in a direction which is upstream with respect thereto; a second carriage; said second carriage being supported by and adapted for movement along said second overhead trackway; attaching means on said sample collector; and means on said second carriage for cooperating with the attaching means on said sample collector; whereby said sample collector may be moved with said second carriage upwardly from and downstream with respect to the moving endless belt conveyor and then transversely thereof by the movement of said first carriage along said fixed overhead trackway.

I l 1! i l 

1. Apparatus for conveying particulate material and removing a sample thereof while it is in motion comprising, in combination an endless belt conveyor; means for moving the particulate material onto said endless belt conveyor from above; a sample collector which is adapted for disposition on said endless belt conveyor and movement beneath said means; an overhead trackway extending at a substantially normal angle to said endless belt conveyor and disposed downstream with respect to said means; a carriage adapted for movement along said overhead trackway; a second overhead trackway supported by said carriage and extending downwardly toward the endless belt conveyor and in a direction which is upstream with respect thereto; a second carriage supported by and adapted for movement along said second overhead trackway; and means on said sample collector for permitting its atTachment to said second carriage; whereby said sample collector may be moved with said second carriage upwardly from and downstream with respect to the moving endless belt conveyor and then transversely thereof by the movement of said first-named carriage along said first-named overhead trackway.
 2. Apparatus for conveying particulate material and removing a sample thereof while it is in motion comprising, in combination, an endless belt conveyor; means for moving the particulate material onto said endless belt conveyor from above; a sample collector which is adapted for disposition on said endless belt conveyor and movement beneath said means; a first carriage; said first carriage being disposed above and movable over said endless belt conveyor at a position which is downstream with respect to said means; a second carriage supported by said first carriage and movable with respect thereto; a retractable attaching device carried by said second carriage and disposed to extend downwardly toward, and upstream with respect to, said endless belt conveyor; attaching elements carried by said sample collector; and attaching elements carried by said retractable attaching device which are adapted to cooperate with the attaching elements carried by said sample collector.
 3. Apparatus for conveying particulate material and removing a sample thereof while it is in motion comprising, in combination, an endless belt conveyor; means for moving the particulate material onto said endless belt conveyor from above; a sample collector which is adapted for disposition on said endless belt conveyor and movement beneath said means; a fixed overhead trackway extending at a substantially normal angle to said endless belt conveyor and disposed downstream with respect to said means; a first carriage; said first carriage being adapted for movement along said fixed overhead trackway; a second overhead trackway; said second overhead trackway being pivotally supported by said first carriage and extending downwardly toward said endless belt conveyor and in a direction which is upstream with respect thereto; a second carriage; said second carriage being supported by and adapted for movement along said second overhead trackway; attaching means on said sample collector; and means on said second carriage for cooperating with the attaching means on said sample collector; whereby said sample collector may be moved with said second carriage upwardly from and downstream with respect to the moving endless belt conveyor and then transversely thereof by the movement of said first carriage along said fixed overhead trackway. 